Health Information and Disease Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Is your child running a fever, along with painful red blisters in their mouth, on the palms of their hands or the soles of their feet? They may have contracted hand foot and mouth disease, a form of coxsackie virus.

The most important thing to remember about coxsackie virus is it is highly contagious. And has the potential to spread like wildfire within a group of infants and young children. So keep your child home and away from other children whenever in doubt.

Coxsackie virus may cause mild flu like symptoms, which goes away without any particular treatment. Or it can cause an unusual mixture of symptoms, including:

Herpangina is a form of coxsackie virus, causing a throat infection marked by red-ringed blisters and ulcers on the tonsils.

Coxsackie virus may also result in hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, a “whites of the eyes” infection that typically starts with eye pain. This pain is followed up with red, watery, swollen eyes, light sensitivity and blurry vision.

Treatment for hand, foot and mouth (herpangina) depends on the type of infection and symptoms. Never use antibiotics in an attempt to fight this infection, those only work against bacteria. Acetaminophen may be given to relieve any minor aches and pains.

Most children with the minor form of coxsackie virus infection recover in a couple of days without needing much treatment. Bed rest and plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration is recommended when fever is present.

Keep in mind that some cases can lead to more serious infections, such as: